The Roaring Twenties were full of new ideas and thinking. Unfortunately for society, it also saw the growth of organized crime, and along with it, the rise of the FBI and G-Men. Bootlegging, gang rivalries, and bank heists were at all time high. Mobsters like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano were at their peak. J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI became a nationally recognized force. The “Public Enemy” era had begun.
St. Valentines Day Massacre
Alphonse “Al” Capone was a famous gangster during the prohibition era. He was born in Brooklyn but moved away to Chicago in 1915. Quickly Al Capone rose to power by murdering his competition. Capone was a producer and distributer of them, illegal liquor helping him to gain a whopping 50 million dollars in 1929. What Al Capone is most famous for is the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, one of the bloodiest assassinations of them all. The bloody events of February 14th, 1929 began 5 years ago with the assassination of Dion O' Banion, the leader of Chicago's north side mob. Control of bootleg liquor was fought back and forth between O' Banion's north side mob and the south side Outfit which was run by Johnny Torrio and his henchmen, Al Capone. In 1924 Torrio ordered for the assassination of O' Banion beginning an all out war between the two gangs. Due to the assassination, the north side mob nearly killed Torrio causing him to leave Chicago and give all operations to Capone. Shortly after Capone had Hymie Weiss, the new leader of the north side mob, assassinated instantly leaving control to the next leader, George "Bugs" Moran, the biggest enemy of Capone.George "Bugs" Moran Alphonse "Al" Capone In 1929 Moran, sided with Joe Aiello plotting another attack on Capone. To get at him they shot and killed one of Capoe's men, Pasquillano Lolordo. Because of this, Capone promised to send Moran a special "valentine" on the 14th. Having many contacts around the country, Capone had someone in Detroit tell Moran that a huge shipment of illegal alchohol was being shipped to Moran's north side Clark Street Garage. However, this garage was owned by a friend of Moran. So, many of Moran's men gathered at the garage waiting for the shipment of the alcohol . At about 10:30, a police car pulled up dropping off 2 uniformed police officers and 3 in civilian clothing. Little did Moran's men now that these "policemen" and "civilians" were in fact Capones men. Moran, had seen the police car as he was making his way to the garage and infered that they had been caught so he stopped at the next corner and got some coffee. After exiting the car, the 2 policemen signaled the 3 civilians to open fire on the 7 men awating the illegal alcohol killing them all. Among the men killed was: Peter Gusenberg, a frontline enforcer for the Moran organization. Frank Gusenberg, the brother of Peter Gusenberg and also an enforcer. Albert Kachellek (alias "James Clark"), Moran's second-in-command, a retired man at the time, he was not a member of the gang himself but happened to be there at the time the killing happened. Adam Heyer, the bookkeeper and business manager of the Moran gang. Reinhart Schwimmer, an optician who had quit his job to gamble on horse racing (unsuccessfully) and associate with the Moran gang. Albert Weinshank, another of Moran’s men John May, an occasional car mechanic for the Moran gang, though not a gang member himself. For more information go to these websites: www.prairieghosts.com/valentine.html or the book: . American Decades 1920- 1929
Gangsters A gangster is a member of an organized gang of criminals, especially one who resorts to violence. Three very famous gangsters are Al Capone, Dutch Schultz, and Lucky Luciano.
Book Source: American Decades Alphonse “Al” Capone (1899-1947) Al Capone was the most notorious gangster of the Prohibition era. Born in Brooklyn, New York and then moved to Chicago in 1915. By murdering the competition, he rose through the gangland’s organization to assume control. A racketeer and a bootlegger, Capone amassed a fortune estimated in 1929 at $50 million. His most infamous crime was the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre of Feb. 14, 1929, a bloody assassination of a rival gang at a Chicago garage. For more info about Al Capone go to this website: http://www.chicagohs.org/history/capone.html
blog.pappastax.com/.../ 2009/01/al_capone_bat.jpg
Online Source: Dutch Schultz (1902-1935) He was a New York City area Jewish-American gangster of the 1920s and 1930s who made his fortune in organized crime-related activities such as bootlegging alcohol and the number racket. Weakened by two tax evasions trials led by prosecutor Thomas Dewey, Schultz's rackets were threatened by fellow mobster Lucky Luciano. In an effort to avert his conviction Schultz asked The Commission for permission to kill Dewey, which they declined. Concerned that Schultz would act without their blessing, they ordered his assassination in 1935. Dutch Schultz was one of the most powerful leaders of organized crime in America, and like many another of that ilk, he died under gangster guns himself. However, the 1935 murder of Dutch Schultz (Arthur Flegenheimer) was a pure and simple political assassination, carried out so as not to disturb the American body politic. For more info go here: http://www.njhm.com/dutchschultz.htm scrapetv.com/.../usa/ images-4/dutch-schultz.jpg
Online Source: Charles “Lucky” Luciano (1897-1962) He was an Italian mobster born in Sicily. Luciano is considered the father of modern organized crime in America for splitting New York City into five different Mafia crime families and the establishment of the first commission. He was the first official boss of the modern Genovese crime family. He was, along with his associate Meyer Lansky, instrumental in the development of the "National Crime Syndicate" in the United States. In many ways, he was the model for the character Don Corleone in the popular book and movie, The Godfather (1972). He evaded arrest and survived attempted gangland assassinations only to meet his downfall in 1936 while vacationing in Hot Springs (Garland County). For more information about Lucky Luciano look here: <iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZIqIRr494TQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
vito92sicilia.webs.com/ Lucky%20Luciano/1l.jpg
G-Men G-men is a "FBI agent," 1930, shortening of government man; used earlier in an Irish context (1917), but the abbreviation is perhaps the same one.
The 1920's were known as the Public Enemy era. Crime was rampant throughout the U.S., and was at an all-time high. The BUI, a predecessor to the FBI, was powerless and left most crimes to city police. This all changed when J. Edgar Hoover was appointed chief of the FBI. He brought the new FBI to national recognition and organized the man-hunts for John Dillinger and Babyface Nelson, among others. He held the position until his death in the 1970's, and was credited with taking down some of the biggest criminals in U.S. history. J. Edgar Hoover, while now head of the FBI, relied heavily on his field agents. Melvin Purvis was perhaps the most famous agent of all. A poor farm boy, Purvis quickly advanced through the ranks of the FBI. Finally, he was charged to bring down the infamous John Dillinger. Finally, after a few years, Purvis and his team cornered and killed John Dillinger outside of the Biograph Theater in Chicago. However, Hoover grew jealous of Purvis and forced him out of the FBI.
Chicago's crime scene was not limited to Dillinger. Al Capone virtually controlled the city's politics and bootlegging industry. Eliot Ness took it upon himnself to take down Capone, and formed a team of 11 elite agents, called "The Untouchables." In his search for Capone, Ness raided over $1 million dollars worth of breweries and speakeasies.After years of searching for evidene of Capone's crimes, he was finally brought down on income tax evason. The FBI had risen out of its jurisdiction, and it had become a crime-stopping force. See also: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAhooverE.htm , http://www.biography.com/articles/Melvin-Purvis-9542100 , http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history J. Edgar Hoover
Bootlegging
Bootlegging is alcoholic liquor unlawfullymade,sold, or transported, without registration or payment of taxes.
On January 16 1920 alcohol was being banned because of the 18th amendment being put in place. That stated importation, exportation, manufacture, and sale of alcohol would be illegal. Priests, politicians, and other reformers respected and were happy about this act. People who opposed alcohol were called dries. A business leader Henry Ford refused to hire anybody who drank alcohol. A businessman who had some money could rent a basement or store front could hire a gangster and open a speak easy selling booze to a thirsty towns person. Gangsters like a Al ‘Scarface’ Capone made millions of dollars bootlegging. Al Capone and many other Gangsters fought over their turf and mostly came out successful. On April 7th 1933 alcohol was now legal again. Bootlegging was an illegal sale of alcohol when alcohol was banned from the united state. The word bootlegging was first used by the Native Americans when they carried a bottle of liquor in their boot for illegal sale of liquor. Bootlegging in large cities always ended up with a bloody gang war. Bootleggers made millions of dollars selling their alcohol to speak easies and people on the streets.
Pendergast, Tom, and Sara Pendergast. American Decades 1920- 1929. MI, NY,CA,OH,Conn,Maine,Eng.,: Thomson Gale, 2003. 68. Print.
Christian's Citations
Pendergast, Tom, and Sara Pendergast. American Decades 1920- 1929. MI, NY,CA,OH,Conn,Maine,Eng.,: Thomson Gale, 2003. 68. Print.
"Headline Mackers." American Decades. 1920-1929. United States of America: Thomson Gale, 2003. Print.
Sifakis, Carl. "Dutch Schultz, assassination of." Encyclopedia of Assassinations, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2001. Modern World History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE53&iPin=assass00321&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 10, 2011).
Pendergast, Tom, and Sara Pendergast. American Decades 1920- 1929. MI, NY,CA,OH,Conn,Maine,Eng.,: Thomson Gale, 2003. 68. Print.
Stephen's Sources
Sifakis, Carl. "bootlegging." The Encyclopedia of American Crime, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2001. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE52&iPin=EAC0173&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 11, 2011).
Vocab Terms:
Gangsters
Bootlegging
G-men
Introduction
The Roaring Twenties were full of new ideas and thinking. Unfortunately for society, it also saw the growth of organized crime, and along with it, the rise of the FBI and G-Men. Bootlegging, gang rivalries, and bank heists were at all time high. Mobsters like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano were at their peak. J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI became a nationally recognized force. The “Public Enemy” era had begun.St. Valentines Day Massacre
Alphonse “Al” Capone was a famous gangster during the prohibition era. He was born in Brooklyn but moved away to Chicago in 1915. Quickly Al Capone rose to power by murdering his competition. Capone was a producer and distributer of them, illegal liquor helping him to gain a whopping 50 million dollars in 1929. What Al Capone is most famous for is the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, one of the bloodiest assassinations of them all.The bloody events of February 14th, 1929 began 5 years ago with the assassination of Dion O' Banion, the leader of Chicago's north side mob. Control of bootleg liquor was fought back and forth between O' Banion's north side mob and the south side Outfit which was run by Johnny Torrio and his henchmen, Al Capone. In 1924 Torrio ordered for the assassination of O' Banion beginning an all out war between the two gangs. Due to the assassination, the north side mob nearly killed Torrio causing him to leave Chicago and give all operations to Capone. Shortly after Capone had Hymie Weiss, the new leader of the north side mob, assassinated instantly leaving control to the next leader, George "Bugs" Moran, the biggest enemy of Capone.
Alphonse "Al" Capone
In 1929 Moran, sided with Joe Aiello plotting another attack on Capone. To get at him they shot and killed one of Capoe's men, Pasquillano Lolordo. Because of this, Capone promised to send Moran a special "valentine" on the 14th. Having many contacts around the country, Capone had someone in Detroit tell Moran that a huge shipment of illegal alchohol was being shipped to Moran's north side Clark Street Garage. However, this garage was owned by a friend of Moran. So, many of Moran's men gathered at the garage waiting for the shipment of the alcohol . At about 10:30, a police car pulled up dropping off 2 uniformed police officers and 3 in civilian clothing. Little did Moran's men now that these "policemen" and "civilians" were in fact Capones men. Moran, had seen the police car as he was making his way to the garage and infered that they had been caught so he stopped at the next corner and got some coffee. After exiting the car, the 2 policemen signaled the 3 civilians to open fire on the 7 men awating the illegal alcohol killing them all.
Among the men killed was:
Peter Gusenberg, a frontline enforcer for the Moran organization.
Frank Gusenberg, the brother of Peter Gusenberg and also an enforcer.
Albert Kachellek (alias "James Clark"), Moran's second-in-command, a retired man at the time, he was not a member of the gang himself but happened to be there at the time the killing happened.
Adam Heyer, the bookkeeper and business manager of the Moran gang.
Reinhart Schwimmer, an optician who had quit his job to gamble on horse racing (unsuccessfully) and associate with the Moran gang.
Albert Weinshank, another of Moran’s men
John May, an occasional car mechanic for the Moran gang, though not a gang member himself.
For more information go to these websites:
www.prairieghosts.com/valentine.html
or the book:
. American Decades 1920- 1929
Gangsters
A gangster is a member of an organized gang of criminals, especially one who resorts to violence. Three very famous gangsters are Al Capone, Dutch Schultz, and Lucky Luciano.
Book Source: American Decades
Alphonse “Al” Capone (1899-1947)
Al Capone was the most notorious gangster of the Prohibition era. Born in Brooklyn, New York and then moved to Chicago in 1915. By murdering the competition, he rose through the gangland’s organization to assume control. A racketeer and a bootlegger, Capone amassed a fortune estimated in 1929 at $50 million. His most infamous crime was the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre of Feb. 14, 1929, a bloody assassination of a rival gang at a Chicago garage.
For more info about Al Capone go to this website: http://www.chicagohs.org/history/capone.html
Online Source: Dutch Schultz (1902-1935)
He was a New York City area Jewish-American gangster of the 1920s and 1930s who made his fortune in organized crime-related activities such as bootlegging alcohol and the number racket. Weakened by two tax evasions trials led by prosecutor Thomas Dewey, Schultz's rackets were threatened by fellow mobster Lucky Luciano. In an effort to avert his conviction Schultz asked The Commission for permission to kill Dewey, which they declined. Concerned that Schultz would act without their blessing, they ordered his assassination in 1935. Dutch Schultz was one of the most powerful leaders of organized crime in America, and like many another of that ilk, he died under gangster guns himself. However, the 1935 murder of Dutch Schultz (Arthur Flegenheimer) was a pure and simple political assassination, carried out so as not to disturb the American body politic.
For more info go here: http://www.njhm.com/dutchschultz.htm
Online Source: Charles “Lucky” Luciano (1897-1962)
He was an Italian mobster born in Sicily. Luciano is considered the father of modern organized crime in America for splitting New York City into five different Mafia crime families and the establishment of the first commission. He was the first official boss of the modern Genovese crime family. He was, along with his associate Meyer Lansky, instrumental in the development of the "National Crime Syndicate" in the United States. In many ways, he was the model for the character Don Corleone in the popular book and movie, The Godfather (1972). He evaded arrest and survived attempted gangland assassinations only to meet his downfall in 1936 while vacationing in Hot Springs (Garland County).
For more information about Lucky Luciano look here: <iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZIqIRr494TQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
G-Men
G-men is a "FBI agent," 1930, shortening of government man; used earlier in an Irish context (1917), but the abbreviation is perhaps the same one.
The 1920's were known as the Public Enemy era. Crime was rampant throughout the U.S., and was at an all-time high. The BUI, a predecessor to the FBI, was powerless and left most crimes to city police. This all changed when J. Edgar Hoover was appointed chief of the FBI. He brought the new FBI to national recognition and organized the man-hunts for John Dillinger and Babyface Nelson, among others. He held the position until his death in the 1970's, and was credited with taking down some of the biggest criminals in U.S. history.
J. Edgar Hoover, while now head of the FBI, relied heavily on his field agents. Melvin Purvis was perhaps the most famous agent of all. A poor farm boy, Purvis quickly advanced through the ranks of the FBI. Finally, he was charged to bring down the infamous John Dillinger. Finally, after a few years, Purvis and his team cornered and killed John Dillinger outside of the Biograph Theater in Chicago. However, Hoover grew jealous of Purvis and forced him out of the FBI.
Chicago's crime scene was not limited to Dillinger. Al Capone virtually controlled the city's politics and bootlegging industry. Eliot Ness took it upon himnself to take down Capone, and formed a team of 11 elite agents, called "The Untouchables." In his search for Capone, Ness raided over $1 million dollars worth of breweries and speakeasies.After years of searching for evidene of Capone's crimes, he was finally brought down on income tax evason. The FBI had risen out of its jurisdiction, and it had become a crime-stopping force.
See also: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAhooverE.htm , http://www.biography.com/articles/Melvin-Purvis-9542100 , http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history
J. Edgar Hoover
Bootlegging
Bootlegging is alcoholic liquor unlawfully made, sold, or transported, without registration or payment of taxes.
On January 16 1920 alcohol was being banned because of the 18th amendment being put in place. That stated importation, exportation, manufacture, and sale of alcohol would be illegal. Priests, politicians, and other reformers respected and were happy about this act. People who opposed alcohol were called dries. A business leader Henry Ford refused to hire anybody who drank alcohol. A businessman who had some money could rent a basement or store front could hire a gangster and open a speak easy selling booze to a thirsty towns person. Gangsters like a Al ‘Scarface’ Capone made millions of dollars bootlegging. Al Capone and many other Gangsters fought over their turf and mostly came out successful. On April 7th 1933 alcohol was now legal again.
Bootlegging was an illegal sale of alcohol when alcohol was banned from the united state. The word bootlegging was first used by the Native Americans when they carried a bottle of liquor in their boot for illegal sale of liquor. Bootlegging in large cities always ended up with a bloody gang war. Bootleggers made millions of dollars selling their alcohol to speak easies and people on the streets.
Adin's Citations
"Melvin Purvis." Biography.com. A&E, n.d. Web. 11 Mar 2011. http://www.biography.com/articles/Melvin-Purvis-9542100.
New World Encyc;opedia. Web. 14 Mar 2011. http://static.newworldencyclopedia.org/thumb/b/b0/Hoover-JEdgar-LOC.jpg/210px-Hoover-JEdgar-LOC.jpg.
Simkin, John. "John Edgar Hoover Biography." Spartacus Educational. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar 2011. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAhooverE.htm.
Pendergast, Tom, and Sara Pendergast. American Decades 1920- 1929. MI, NY,CA,OH,Conn,Maine,Eng.,: Thomson Gale, 2003. 68. Print.
Christian's Citations
Pendergast, Tom, and Sara Pendergast. American Decades 1920- 1929. MI, NY,CA,OH,Conn,Maine,Eng.,: Thomson Gale, 2003. 68. Print.
"Headline Mackers." American Decades. 1920-1929. United States of America: Thomson Gale, 2003. Print.
Sifakis, Carl. "Dutch Schultz, assassination of." Encyclopedia of Assassinations, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2001. Modern World History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE53&iPin=assass00321&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 10, 2011).
Jackson's Citations
Taylor, Troy. "Blood, Roses, and Valentines." PrairiegHosts. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Mar 2011. <http://www.prairieghosts.com/valentine.html.
Pendergast, Tom, and Sara Pendergast. American Decades 1920- 1929. MI, NY,CA,OH,Conn,Maine,Eng.,: Thomson Gale, 2003. 68. Print.
Stephen's Sources
Sifakis, Carl. "bootlegging." The Encyclopedia of American Crime, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2001. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE52&iPin=EAC0173&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 11, 2011).